I can understand a fascination with clouds and I only wish I was a better photographer so my photographs could really convey the beauty contained in the clouds on that Sunday morning at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. There were clouds and fog, normally not good for photographing but with clear patches of sky and strong winds the clouds could be floating sculptures one minute then alien jellyfish eating mountains the next. Sometimes the clouds and fogs sandwiched the landscape between them, giving the mountains an otherworld sense appearing briefly from a magic cloud bank. There was also a mist rising from the ground, helping to encase the shrubs in wisps of mystery. But there were clear patches of vegetation where I saw some beautiful birds. I think I have taken my best photograph so far of a New Holland Honeyeater, it was like the bird knew I was photographing it so was happy to pose. The morning was just a wonderful start to the day. The drive into Tidbinbilla set the tone of the visit when I had to stop the car so I could start photographing the clouds. My mood was further boosted when a very kind indigenous ranger saw me arrive early at the Dalsetta Car Park and pulled in with his ute to offer my a lift up to the top of the ridge, as he thought I was going to photograph the clouds from up there. He was a friendly guy and we had a brief chat about photography. He had taken some photos of a previous thick fog which filled the whole valley. It is just a wonderful start when you have a friendly person greet you as they want to give you a hand. It was a wonderful morning and I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
One of the amazing clouds over the ridgeline
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
Cloud at top with fog at the bottom
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/125 SEC])
Another low cloud further down the valley
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
The drive into Tidbinbilla is always nice, this morning it was extra special
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/13 and 1/250 SEC])
The clouds were doing some magical things
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
The sun was casting an amazing light over the valley
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC])
Last cloud shot, I wish I could have captured them better
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC])
Gibraltar Peak
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 158mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])
Mist rising from the ground contributing to the fog
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
I was not sure I had seen this Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis). It was very still in the shrub. I had seen a bird fly from the ground to the shrub but its lack of movement made me doubt the yellow blob I could see was the bird that had just landed. It was only in taking the photograph I confirmed it was a robin. It did not want me getting close, quickly taking off as I tried to move nearer.
Eastern Yellow Robin
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/125 SEC])
In the same open space where I saw the Eastern Yellow Robin I noticed at least one New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). I saw it high in a tree, as pictured below but not that photograph. I did take a photograph at the time I first saw it but I was further away. Before I could get closer, it flew from the branch where it is in the photograph below to a different shrub. I thought it was feeding with another honeyeater and I was trying to get a photograph of either of them moving through the banksia shrub. Eventually, without me getting a photograph, one of the birds flew back to the original branch. I had moved a little closer to that branch by this time, as I had adjusted my spot in trying to photograph the birds in the shrub. Again, I was able to get some photographs before it once again flew to the banksia shrub, almost straight past my ear. I thought I could see a pattern. Rather than turn around to try to take photographs among the mess off banksia leaves, I moved closer to the first tree and focussed my camera on the top branch. I was rewarded shortly when the honeyeater again came past my ear on its way to its vantage point. I had a massive smile, as there was one of my favourite birds on a brightly lit branch and I had dialled in my settings already to get a good photograph. I can still improve the shot but I was happy with it, I was also excited to see this bird again in such a clear location.
New Holland Honeyeater
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])
Seeing Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) at Tidbinbilla is not hard. I think some have become very used to visitors. I have even seen some people feeding them at the picnic area. Driving out of the reserve I saw a small group beside the road. I was able to stop the car, wind down the window to take photographs without frightening them. I concentrated on one in particular. When a car was approaching from the opposite direction I was able to take a lovely profile shot with a bit of catchlight in the eye. There was also a large mob just off the side of the road that did not seem concerned about the passing traffic.
A mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos just off the road, always good to drive slowly in the park
A head study of a juvenile Eastern Grey Kangaroo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/6.3 and 1/1000 SEC])